Looking for a way to stream your locally saved media directly to your TV? Interested in the idea of an open source decoder with customizable third-party plugins? If you answered Yes to any of these questions, it sounds like you are looking for a Kodi box.
We have already established that Kodi boxes are legal. What are Kodi boxes and is it legal to have one? What are Kodi boxes and is it legal to have one? In this article, we not only explain what Kodi boxes are, but also give you a definitive answer about their legality. Read more . If you're interested in purchasing one, the next step is to determine which one is right for your personal needs, because everyone is different.
When it comes to Kodi boxes, there are many options on the market. Different boxes suit different usage situations. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to make sense of the wide range of options. But don't worry, MakeUseOf is here to help you figure it all out.
To make this article easier to digest, we've divided it into several different categories. Therefore, we suggest skimming through the article and finding the title that best describes it before delving into the recommendations.
Are you new to the world of Kodi boxes and interested to see what all the fuss is about?
At this point, you probably neither need nor want all the bells and whistles that some of the more extravagant boxes come equipped with. If HD audio isn't a concern and you don't have an AV receiver as part of your home theater setup, you have two main options to choose from.
The Xiaomi Mi Box does a great job of handling Android TV apps. It ships with Marshmallow (meaning it can handle 4K video. What's the difference between 4K and Ultra HD? What's the difference between 4K and Ultra HD? Thinking about buying a new TV or monitor but feeling lost with all the terminology like 4K and Ultra HD - Here's everything you need to know about it Read More
It also comes with a Bluetooth voice remote (so you can use Google Voice to search your Kodi library), and it excels in benchmark tests.
While the Android features are nice, as a pure Kodi player, WeTek does a great job. Offers Kodi dynamic update switching and HD deinterlacing.
The WeTek device also stands out when it comes to connectivity. It features 5GHz band Wi-Fi support, GigaE video transfer, a serial cable port, and an IR extender cable.
If you're an experienced desktop Kodi user, you may want to replicate the experience as closely as possible on your TV.
By choosing one of the two devices below, it is possible to have a set-top box that boots directly into the Kodi platform. It will feel exactly like using a cable or satellite box so you don't have any menu or app screen to navigate.
Experts consider the ODROID-C2 to be the most powerful low-cost single board computer on the market. It has a quad-core AmLogic processor and a GPU from Mali, so it can work in many ways. For example, you could set it up as a home automation hub. Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation is starting to deliver on its promises. Read More
If you go this route, you need to install LibreELEC Kodi on the ODROID eMMC flash storage.
The Vero can handle 4K playback, has HD audio, can connect to your other peripherals via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and is one of the only ARM devices to offer a 64-bit architecture. It also has 2 GB of RAM. If you buy a Vero, you need to run OSMC Kodi.
If you want a box that's easy to set up and can do just about anything at a high level, you need an Nvidia Shield.
The Kodi community has considered the Nvidia Shield to be the king of Kodi boxes for a long time. You can run Android apps and the Kodi platform in a stable environment.
Because it's almost plug-and-play (you just need to install the SPMC fork from the Google Play Store), it's perfect for people who aren't highly tech-savvy but still want to enjoy the benefits of Kodi.
It also supports 4K video on Netflix and Amazon Prime and offers de-interlacing video streaming from a PVR server.
Have you been a dedicated cable cutter for several years? If you're extremely confident using Kodi and know exactly how to get the most out of the app, you may want to spend more money on something more powerful.
If that's the case, you can't go wrong with an Intel NUC.
As the name suggests, the Intel I-series NUCs are not a single product, but a whole range of products. The cost of units varies dramatically, as do the capabilities of each device.
If you want to experience Kodi in all its glory, try buying a 6th generation device with the Apollo Lake SoC processor or a 7th generation Kaby Lake processor.
The latest seventh-gen model, the NUC7I7BNH, comes with an i7 processor, an Iris Plus 650 GPU, 32GB of RAM, HDMI 2.0, and USB-C. Unfortunately, it will set you back more than $400.
If that's too much money, check out the NUC6I3SYH. It's only the sixth generation, but at $250 it's almost half the price of its big brother. It has 8GB of RAM, four USB 3.0 ports, and an HD Graphics 500 GPU.
If you have a smart TV running Android TV OS, you're in luck, because Kodi is available on the Google Play Store (as opposed to the iOS store, which requires a workaround). This means you can have it up and running in seconds.
There are some caveats, however. Smart TVs aren't as powerful as some of the dedicated boxes we've reviewed in this article, which means they're not enough. This is where smart TVs fall short from Kodi's point of view:
Bottom line: Will Kodi work on your Android based smart TV? Yes. Will the user experience be as good as using a dedicated box? No.
There you have it:six boxes from six different manufacturers that excel in different areas. Of course, there are plenty of other options to choose from, so don't feel limited by our recommendations.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the ones we've covered, but also on the devices we haven't mentioned. For example, are you a big fan of MINIX U9 or HiMedia Q5? Are You Using a Chromebox or a Chromebit Chromebook vs. Chromebox vs. Chromebit:Which One Is Right for You? Chromebook vs. Chromebox vs. Chromebit:Which one is right for you? If you thought Chromebooks were underrated, what about Chromeboxes and Chromebits? If you're looking for a new Chrome OS device, which one should you buy? What are the strengths of the three devices? Read More If so, how are you finding the experience?
Once you have a Kodi device up and running, check out our guide to setting up Kodi How to Set Up and Use Kodi:For Beginners How to Set Up and Use Kodi:For Beginners You've probably heard people talking about Kodi, but what is it? And how to start doing it? Here's how to set up and get started with Kodi. Read more.
